Pumpkin

I’m pretty much an open book when it comes to my love of fall so yesterday was kind of like a mini holiday for me – cue the seasonal sugared rimmed beers, corn mazes, and unhealthy amounts of cider products we’ll all consume. But, what you may not know is that I am obsessed with breakfast. There is something about waking up to something deliciously satisfying and then washing it down with a glorious cup of coffee that is good for the soul (amiright?). Anyway, let’s talk about this season’s most delectable mascot: pumpkin. The amount of pumpkin/pumpkin products that I could/have/will ingest in the coming weeks is kind of embarrassing, but I’m really okay with it – and in fact, I’m adding to it.

I’ve literally been craving pancakes for like, 3 weeks. That’s pretty impressive for a person who maybe has 4 pancakes a year. I just want pancakes, I want them to be healthy, and now I want them to be festive, and by festive I mean pumpkin. This seems like a tall order for most, but Jen over at Yummy Healthy Easy didn’t think so! I honestly haven’t been this excited to make something since I found out cake on a stick was a thing. Check out her recipe and drool-worthy pictures (from different angles) below. Um, YUM.

If anyone needs me this weekend, I’ll be making these. Both days. Nonstop.

I hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day weekend (despite the oppressive temps and rain for those of you in my neck of the woods.) I’m so happy it’s September… I’m a big fan of anything Fall and now, I can officially begin my obsession with pumpkin all over again. Hubby and I spent some of the 90-degree weekend stowing away all that silly summer stuff and replacing it with Autumn staples. Some of you may think it’s too early, but… (in the nicest way possible) we really don’t care 🙂 . Bring on the crunchy leaves, macintosh candles, and pumpkin carving, please.

If you’ve been following Lady Gaga at all recently, you’d know that she’s wearing far less costume makeup than usual and she’s been acting surprisingly normal. “Normal” is obviously all relative, but let’s all just be happy she isn’t wearing meat or “incubating in an egg.” Okay, so she looked like toast (and then a little like The Little Mermaid gone bad) at the VMAs. That’s still a far cry from 2012 Gaga. Recently though, she wore a dress that made bubbles and proved that she’s still the eccentric gal we know and love.

I love how non-chalant she is about this. She’s like “Yea, I’m wearing this really cool dress, heel-less shoes, and bubbles are surrounding me like the goddess that I am, jealous?.” Well, actually, yes. I AM jealous and I’m not sure if that’s ever happened before with one of her outfits. This is glorious and I needed it, like yesterday. And the weird, bubble looking glasses, too.

In other news, Amanda Bynes tweeted out her first tweet since mid-July – you know, before her public meltdown. While I was really hoping for something indicative of healing, progress, and sanity, all we got was: “I love drake.” I mean, I don’t want to jump to any wild conclusions, but…I’m gonna go with a “no” on whether she’s recovered.

Let me just seamlessly transition from Amanda to Miley. In a recent interview, she broke her silence on the VMA performance that stunned a nation. Apparently she thinks we’re kind of crazy for dwelling on it. I guess to an extent, we are guilty of giving it more attention than it probably deserves, but it’s so much more than a few gyrations and excessive foam finger humping – it’s indicative of what “entertainment” has become and how overly sexualized moves, lyrics, and attire can affect the lives of the millions of young, impressionable children who look up to these celebrities as role models. As much as they claim that they are “living for themselves” or that they “never signed up to guide or influence children,” they are entertainers, they are in the public eye, and by default, that accountability is part of the deal. And, ennddd scene.

For more info on what Miley had to say, click the picture below!

Disclaimer: Forgive me if this post is a bit disorganized. I came down with a terrible cold recently and life, like my head at the moment, is a bit…fuzzy.

So maybe its the crisp fall air or the changing leaves that make me want to bake little sugary confections and warm up by a fire with some hot apple cider…doesn’t this happen to everyone?

To kick this “sport” (and I use this term incredibly loosely…) into high gear, I’ve compiled some must have recipes for fall. I fully intend on trying these myself since they look too good, wayyy too cute (and sometimes even healthy!) to pass up.

OVEN BAKED APPLE CRISPS

Go ahead and try to tell me these don’t look amazing! You can’t. They are super easy, super healthy, and definitely scrumptious – and they even make your home smell festive… talk about a multi-tasking recipe!

WHAT TO GET

2 apples

Cinnamon

HOW TO DO IT

Remove apple core.

Thinly slice the entire apple.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place apple slices on it.

Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Bake at 275 degrees for two hours. At the end of hour one flip them over so they bake evenly.Check on them at the hour mark and every 30 minutes after that. Once they look nice and crispy take them out and enjoy!

Maybe it’s because of my short stature, but I’m a big fan of anything bite-size. These fun goodies intrigued me and I am certain Bake-Fest 2012, or in this case “no-bake” fest, will include some of these babies.

TO. DIE. FOR. Ugh… where has this been all my life!? I’ll tell you where it hasn’t been and that’s in my stomach. If you’ve read pretty much any of my fall posts I’ve mentioned ‘pumpkin’ at least once so I don’t believe this smoothie really needs much of an introduction except that I should have made it, like… yesterday. Oh, and did I mention that it is actually fairly healthy and protein packed – as if we needed another reason to love this idea.